Paul Earley
Encyclopedia
Paul Earley is a former Irish sportsman who played Australian rules football
for Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and Gaelic football
for Roscommon GAA
.
Earley was the first player recruited from Ireland to play a VFL match, beating Sean Wight
who was also listed by Melbourne at the time. He made his only appearance in Melbourne's last game of the 1984 VFL season
, when they lost to Richmond
by 28 points at the MCG
.
Due to family reasons, Earley returned to Ireland at the end of the year and rejoined Roscommon GAA
, with whom his elder brother, Dermot Earley
, who played. He was named as a full-forward in the 1985 GAA All Star Team and represented Ireland in the 1987 International Rules series
. The former VFL footballer then played in Roscommon's 1990 and 1991 Connacht Championship
winning teams. Earley later managed both Allenwood G.F.C.
and Celbridge GAA
. He has also worked as a commentator for Setanta Sports
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
for Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
for Roscommon GAA
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
.
Earley was the first player recruited from Ireland to play a VFL match, beating Sean Wight
Sean Wight
John Phillip "Sean" Wight was a Scottish-Australian Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL.He is a member of the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame and was named as one of the 150 Heroes of the club during the club's 150th celebrations.The 185 cm tall, 85 kg Wight played for the...
who was also listed by Melbourne at the time. He made his only appearance in Melbourne's last game of the 1984 VFL season
1984 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1984.-Awards:* The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Peter Moore of Melbourne.* The Coleman Medal was awarded to Bernie Quinlan of Fitzroy....
, when they lost to Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
by 28 points at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
.
Due to family reasons, Earley returned to Ireland at the end of the year and rejoined Roscommon GAA
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
, with whom his elder brother, Dermot Earley
Dermot Earley
Lieutenant-General Dermot Earley DSM was an Irish army officer and sportsman. He played Gaelic football with his local clubs Michael Glavey's and Sarsfield's and was a member of the Roscommon GAA senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1985...
, who played. He was named as a full-forward in the 1985 GAA All Star Team and represented Ireland in the 1987 International Rules series
1987 International Rules series
The 1987 International Rules series took place in Ireland and consisted of three Test matches between the Australian and Irish international rules football teams.-Summary:1st Test Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Crowd: 15,5322nd Test...
. The former VFL footballer then played in Roscommon's 1990 and 1991 Connacht Championship
Connacht Senior Football Championship
The Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA. A series of games are played during the summer months and the final is played in July....
winning teams. Earley later managed both Allenwood G.F.C.
Allenwood G.F.C.
Allenwood G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club based in Allenwood, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. Because it is located in County Kildare, the club competes in the County Kildare GAA board league and cup system. Allenwood was the winner of the Kildare Senior Football Championship in 2004 and Club...
and Celbridge GAA
Celbridge GAA
Celbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. They were awarded Kildare GAA club of the year in 2008, winners of the Kildare senior football championship of 2008, finalists in the senior football league of 1923, 1988 and 2008 and won the Kildare senior...
. He has also worked as a commentator for Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
.